Help me narrow down fishies

J

JeepTJ

[Okay... So I'm starting a 75G tank, and want to mainly deal with corals and other inverts (clams, some shrimp, no crabs at this point). Undecided on anemones, most likely not, since I don't really want clownfish, and I like the smaller fish that would most likely get consumed. So anyhow, here's a list - help me narrow it down by pointing out the conflicting ones...

I'm figuring a max of 15" of fish for the tank? so that means 5 fish out of my list of 11. It also goes without saying I won't be adding all five at once, this is just the roadmap I'm working on. And any thoughts as to order of introduction (especially the first one - I'd like to make it a valentines present - obviously the mandarin will be a long way off). So anyhow, here's a list - help me narrow it down by pointing out the conflicting ones...

Bangaii Cardinalfish
Green Mandarinfish
Sixline Wrasse
Sunrise Dottyback
Treadfin Anthias
Blackray Shrimp Goby
Blue Assessor
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse
Rainford's Goby
Lawnmower Blenny
Yellowtail Fang Blenny

Most are 3" max fish, so like I said, I can put maybe 5 in a 75?

Thanks for your thoughtful experience and input!]
 
[I don't believe you can put more than one wrasse in the tank, so you'd have to make a choice. And know that wrasses eat pods, the same as you hope to feed your mandarin.

Anthias are beautiful fish, and look great when they school together.

I love fish, and believe you can have more than 5 in your 75g. I had 9 in my 55g and 7 in my 29g. I do tend to push the limits though... :blush:]
 
[From the list of fish you provided, I would select the following personally.

2 - Bangaii Cardinals (male, female)
1 - Lawnmower Blenny
1 - Blackray Shrimp Goby
1 - Carpenter's Fairy Wrasse
1 - Ranford's Goby]
 
[You have made some great choices and a lot will be personal preference.

I will say there is a good chance your six line would harrass the flasher and the rainsford so I would eliminate him right off.

Here would be my order of preference (but not stocking) just keep in mind it pretty much only based on personal preference.

1) mandarin (awesome fish, should be last as you state)
2)Carpenter's wrasse (the fairy wrasses are my favorite)
3) Blue assessor (Another excellent choice that is fun, can be a little aggresive)
4)Sunrise Dottyback (I wouldn't risk this one and the assessor, pick one or the other as they can both be agressive and look simular)
5) Yellowtail blenny (everyone should have a blenny of some kind)
6) Lawnmower Blenny (ugly but makes up for it with personality)
7) Anthias (I only put these so low because they are hard to keep and so best inschools which will drastically reduce the amount of other fish you can have)
8) Rainfords Goby (Cool fish, can be hard to keep alive)
9) Cardinals (Pretty, but very boring!)]
 
[
I don't believe you can put more than one wrasse in the tank said:
I will say there is a good chance your six line would harrass the flasher and the rainsford so I would eliminate him right off. said:
First off, thanks for the great input, guys! Keep it coming!!

I guess the sixline loses! I'd prefer not to have any bullies in my tank (I hated to knock the longnose hawkfish off the list early on because of that, but I want a happy tank with stress free pets). Will the flasher wrasse be too much competition for the mandarin pod-wise? Forgot to mention, but filtration is an eco-system pro refugium with skimemr and cheato.

I also hear the fairy wrasses like to jump out of the tank. Is the flasher wrasse similar in this?

Have you seen this cardinal? It's an orange stripped cardinal. said:
The pic of the orange-stripe cardinal didn't come across for me. Is there a link or species name you can provide?]
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[What do you mean about the Long Nose Hawkfish? It is definitely not a bully, and I love mine. Had him for years.]
 
@Marc wrote:
[What do you mean about the Long Nose Hawkfish? It is definitely not a bully said:
[I've got the pocketexpert guide "Marine Fishes" by Scott Michael. That's what I have been using to go off of for the list of fish. It says the Longnose Hawkfish is "a threat to ornamental shrimps and small fishes" and "may attack fishes with elongate bodies".

Maybe he's being a little overcautious?

He also mentions they may jump out...

Maybe I shouldn't believe everything I read? hehe]
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[Wow, that is total news to me. I don't recall seeing a single post in all the years of reading online. I'd have to disagree with that assessment.]
 
[Can any tank go without a Beautifull Royal Gramma? I have a Six Line Wrasse as well and they get along perfectly. My Fav fish in my tank is the 6-line. Just an active curious fish that is forever dilligant in its pursuit of food. You have a great list of fish , enjoy!]
 
[Here is what I would get.

1. Flasher wrasse (can jump)
2. blue assessor (great fish)
3. black ray shrimp goby (can be shy)
4. anthias
5. one of the blenny's (midas is a good choice)
6. bangaii

I have had a yellow assessor for several years. This is one of the most docile fish I have ever seen. They are interesting to watch. They like to swim upside down or sideways. I would not put the dottyback with it because it might get picked on.]



Edited By Nicki on 1108174332
 
[Longnose Hawkfish can be added whenever you like. They (all hawkfish) do not have swim bladders and perch a lot.

There are hawkfish that eat shrimp and hermits, but not the Longnosed one. it eats bristleworms and anything else you toss in the tank as food.]
 
[The book mentions the Lawnmower Blenny may nip SPS and Clam mantles...

Fact or fiction?

Also, if the carpenter's flasher wrasse and the longnose hawkfish can jump - what precaustions should I take? Right now, it's a tall canopy for MH lights, but the tank has a fairly wide center brace, an open overflow thing, and then the canopy is kind of open in the back, but needs the airflow...

Thanks again for all the input, gang!!]
 
@Marc wrote:
[I'm really starting to not like your book. Here is the information I share about that fish. [url=http://melevsreef.com/id/ln_hawkfish.html]http://melevsreef.com/id/ln_hawkfish.html[/url]] said:
[Man... so the story it gives on the lawnmower blenny is BS too?

This book may go down as the worst purchase for my tank yet! haha Anyone know a good fish book??

What about the thoughts on the jumpers and my tank setup? Should I worry?]
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[I wouldn't throw out the book because of one persons opinion about a bad fish description. I am a big fan of Scott Micheal and have found most of his descriptions to be true for me.

There are always exceptions to the rule. I have heard many people say 6 line wrasses are well behaved and many people who say they are terrors in their tank.

Do a search on reef central.]
 
[I have had two lawnmower blennies in the past couple of years. The first one was neat, but about a week later I never saw it again. Poof!

The second one came with the 280g, and it has been a great pet. Here he is:

howdy.jpg
alt="">

He's never bothered my clam nor my SPS, but he does have a way when he eats stuff off the glass, rock, or my tree sponge. Kind of a cookie-monster-gulping thing that could really freak out a clam I suppose. Often he'll perch on my zoanthids, or peek out of a spot where he's mostly hidden. I've seen him swim over and rest on top of my Mandarin, which is kinda funny to see.

I've never read any posts by people complaining about theirs, but like Nicki said, results vary from tank to tank and from fish to fish. Many fish are described one way in a book or books, and yet they don't fit that category - it is as if the fish don't read the books, and don't know the rules that have been dictated. ;)

Keep reading, see what has worked for others, and decide for yourself what you want to do.]
 
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